Adjustable door jambs



May 13 1958 N. R. LYBARGER 2,834,066

ADJUSTABLE DooR JAMBs Filed Dec. 21, 1953 -2 sheets-sheet 2 A48 yep/Min Armi/mf IN V EN TOR.

ADJUSTABLE DOOR `AMBS Nile R. Lybarger, Grand Junction, Colo. Application December 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,471

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-12) This invention relates to an adjustable door jamb. With the usual door jamb construction, the door is iitted to the jamb. The principal object of this invention is to provide a construction which will require no trimming of the door but in which the jamb may be fitted to any given door.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that the adjustment of the jamb to lit the door can be quickly and easily accomplished with the use of a simple screw driver.

A further object is to provide an adjustable door jamb construction which can be incorporated in either woodenl or metal door jambs.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and eliciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

ln the drawing:

Fig. l is a horizontal cross-section through the improved door jamb, taken on the line 1 1, Fig. 4, with the door broken away to decrease the width thereof;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical section through the upper left-hand corner of the improved door jamb, taken on the line 2*2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the head of the improved door jamb, taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail section, taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the hinge side of an alternate form of the improved door jamb;

Fig. 6 is a similar section, illustrating a second alternate form of the improved door jamb; and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail, perspective views, illustrating the type of screws employed in the forms of Fig. l, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, respectively.

In the drawings, conventional door opening framing studs are indicated at 10, the lathing or other plaster support at 11, the wall plaster at 12 and a conventional 2" x 4 framing header at 13. The studs 10 and the framing header 13 roughly outline the opening in which the improved door jamb is to be installed.

The improved jamb is applicable to either wood or metal. The adaptation for wood is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and comprises an inner frame structure which is installed from one face of the door opening, and an outer frame structure which is installed from the other face of the door opening in telescopic relation with the inner frame structure so that the two structures may be adjusted relative to each other to accommodate any desired wall thickness.

The inner frame structure comprises a vertical frame board, herein designated as a side casing nailer 14, positioned at each side of the door opening. Each side casing nailer 14 is permanently attached to an inner CII ICC

side casing 15 which projects outwardly and inwardly from the casing nailer. The attachment between the members 14 and 15 is made at the mill before installation in any desired manner, such as by gluing, nailing, or both.

At the head of the frame a head casing nailer 16 overlies the upper extremities of both the side casing nailers 14. The upper casing nailer 16 carries an inner head casing 17 permanently attached thereto.

The inner jamb structure comprises two vertically elongated side jamb strips 1S, to each of which an outer side casing 19 is permanently aiixed at the mill. An inner head jamb strip 20 overlies the upper extremities of both the side jamb strips 18 and carries an outer head casing 21 permanently attached thereto.

The improved jamb is installed by sliding the inner jamb frame into the opening outlined by the studs 10 and the header 13, with the inner casings 15 and 17 overlying and resting against the plaster 12. The side casing nailers are then nailed into position by means of suitable nails 22 extending into the framing studs 10. lf necessary for alignment purposes, suitable wedging 23 may be installed between the nailers 14 and the studs 10.

Hinge and lock strips 24 are now inset against the inner face of the side casings 15 at each side of the door, and a header strip 25 is set over the strips 24. The strips 24 carry a plurality of relatively large, vertically spaced wood screws 26, as shown in detail in Fig. 7. The heads of the screws 26 rest in countersunk bearing washers 27 inset in counterbores in the hinge and lock strips 24. The screws 26 are held in position in the strips by means of suitable cotter keys 28 which extend through key holes bored through the screws. The screws 26 extend through holes 30 in the casing nailers 14 and engage in the studs 10. The holes 30 are provided with counterbores 29 to receive the cotter keys 28 should the strips 24 be brought closely against the boards 14.

The inner jamb frame is now placed in position by sliding the side jamb strips 18 into the enclosure of the casing nailers 14, with the head jamb strip 20 sliding below the head casing nailer 16. The outer casings 19 and 21 are now brought snugly against the surface of the plaster 12 and the jamb strips 18 are nailed, by means of suitable nails 32, through the nailers 14 and into the studs 10.

It will be noted that this leaves a space between the side jamb strips 18 and the hinge and lock strips 24, depending upon the thickness of the wall. This opening is covered by means of door stop or finishing strips 33 which are nailed to the strips 18 by means of suitable nails 34. The inner vertical edges of the door stop strips 33 are brought into alignment with the hinge and lock strips 24.

The improved jamb is now ready to be fitted to a door, such as indicated at 35 in Fig. 1. The door is hinged to one of the strips 24 by means of suitable door hinges 36 and the lock or latch of the dor engages a keeper on the other strip 24 as is usual in door mountings. Should the opening between the jamb members 24 be too narrow` for the door, it is only necessary to tighten the screws 26 to carry their respective strips 24 outward to increase the width of the door opening. The width can be decreased by simply loosening or unscrewing the screws 26 to cause the cotter keys to force the strips 24 toward the door.

Thus, it can be seen that the width of the jamb can be accurately fitted to the width of the door without any cutting or planing of the door being required. When the desired fit has been obtained, the strips 24 may be permanently secured in place, if desired, by means of suitable nails 37 driven through the inner sidetcasings 15.

Thus, it can be seen that `an adjustment is provided,

3 both for the width of the door and for the thickness of the partition or wall in which the door is being installed.

In Fig. 5, the same principle of operation for varying the width of a door opening has been incorporated in a metal door frame. The metal frame consists of an outer metal molding 38 which rests against the lathing or other plaster support 11 and outlines the door opening. A metal door casing 39 is welded, as indicated at 40, or otherwise secured to the casing 38. The metal casing 39 is provided with an indented channel 41 in which an adjustable wooden strip 42 is positioned.

The jarnb strip 42 is held in the channel 41 by means of machine screws 43 which are threaded through threaded bosses 44 in the bottom of the channel 41. These screws are provided with conical heads which are countersunk into bearing washers 45 inset in counterbores in the iamb Strips 42, similarly to the washers 27 previously described.

rifhe screws 43 are provided with cotter keys. 46 extending through diarnet'ric key holes in the screws similar to the cotter keys 28 previously described. An inner casing molding 47 is welded, as shown at 48, or otherwise secured to the side of the channel 41 to outline the inner face of the door opening.

A door 49 is hinged, as indicated at 50, to one of the jamb strips 42 at one side of the door, and the latch or lock is installed at the other side of the door to engage the other jamb strip, as is usual in door hanging.

It can be readily seen that rotation of the screws 43 will move the jamb strips 42 inwardly and outwardly to adjust the width of the door opening to accommodate any given door. The adjacent stud 10 may be bored, as indicated at 51, if necessary for the reception of the screws 43.

In Fig. 6, a metal jamb strip 52 is employed in place of the wooden jamb strip 42 of the form of Fig. 5. The jamb strip 52. comprises a vertical metal channel member bored and countersunk to receive machine screws 53 as illustrated in detail in Fig. 9. The screws 53 are also provided with cotter keys S4 to prevent them from being withdrawn from the jarnb strip 52. The screws 53 thread through the screw nut portions or bosses 44 of the previous form. The operation of the form of Fig. 6 is similar to that previously described with reference to the preceding forms of the invention.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

l. An adjustable jamb for mounting a door in a door opening, having a pair of door bucks and a header in a wall forming a door opening, said door bucks and header having a rst face and a second face= both faces being parallel with the plane of the opening, and said door bucks and header having a side face normal to the plane of the opening, comprising: a side casing nailer secured in said opening at each side thereof; a casing secured to each nailer and projecting outwardly therefrom to overlie one face of said wall and projecting inwardly therefrom towards said door; a hinge and lock strip positioned against the inwardly projecting portion of each casing; screws extending through said strips and through said casing nailer adapted to be threaded into the sides of said door opening; abutment means on said screws acting to prevent longitudinal movement of the latter in said strips; a jamb strip positioned against the inner face of each casing nailer in spaced relation to the hinge and lock strip thereon; a second casing secured to each jamb strip and adapted to overlie the other face of said wall; and a door stop strip secured to each jamb strip and extending to the adjacent hinge and lock strip to cover the space between said jamb strip and said hinge and lock strip and acting as a stop for said door.

2, An adjustable jamb for mounting a door in a door opening-having a pair of door bucks and a header in a wall forming a door opening, said door bucks and header having a rst face and a second face, both faces being parallel with the plane of the opening, and said door bucks and header having a side face normal to the plane of the opening, comprising: a side casing nailer of less width than the thickness of said wall secured in said opening at the sides and top thereof, one edge of said side casing nailer being in substantial alignment with the first face of said wall; a jamb strip secured to and overlying a portion of the Width of said nailer through out the length thereof and projecting sidewardly therefrom to substantial alignment with the second face of said wall; a hinge and lock strip secured to and overlying the remaining portion of the width of said nailer in spaced relation to said jarnb strip throughout the length thereof and having one edge in substantial alignment with the second face of said wall; screws extending through said hinge and lock strip into and through said nailer and into the sides and top of said door opening; means on said screws preventing said hinge land lock strip from moving longitudinaly on said screws; a first casing secured to said hinge and lock strip and overlying the lirst face of said wall; a second casing secured to said jamb strip and overlying the second face of said wall; and a door stop strip secured to and extending along said jamb strip and projecting sidewardly toward said hinge and lock strip to cover the space between said jamb strip and said hinge and lock strip and acting as a stop for said door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 593,435 Roehr Nov. 9, 1897 925,505 Prentiss June 22, 1909 933,985 Hollman Sept. 14, 1909 1,750,921 Bright Mar. 18, 1930 2,651,814 Lester, Jr. Sept. 15, 1953 

